I’m a 36 year old man living in Europe and i engaged in protected vaginal and unprotected cunnilingus with a female 26 years of age. Cunnilingus performed for about 3-4 min. I believe she is not promiscuous and works as a nurse, so I can say she is aware of STI and exposures. I asked if she has anything worrisome and said “No” and has a mindset that as long as condoms are used everything’s fine. 12 days from the intercourse i did a general routine blood test and things were weird. Lymphocytes were 16.5% (normal values 20-45%) and C-Reactive Protein (CRP) was high 28.6 mg/L (normal rate <5mg/L). Although a day before testing i was feeling nausea & had a stomach pain late at night, diminished appetite and sense of fullness probably from something that I ate or drink.  Plus I had two episodes of loose stools kind of diarrhea the same day. The next day had dizziness and felt bit flaccid.

A day afterwards, 14 days from the encounter a rash like eczema appeared bilaterally on neck under my ears (points where usually spraying cologne) & a mild sore throat. Rashes were itchy & formed a redness, size 5x5 cm with a bit elevated feel. A corticosteroid creme didn’t do much for the rash and sore throat was irritating especially when i was smoking cigarettes (recently changed label) not that i could not swallow, but it was mild and present. No fever, no muscle pain or enlarged lymph nodes (as far as I can say). CRP test again at 16 days post act and was normal. Today, 6 days after the onset of symptoms, rashes are slight visible and sore throat almost gone. Dizziness was stopped after 3 days of appearance. I have serious thoughts of contracting HIV from cunnilingus because timeframe and symptoms fit proper. Considering the above how do you estimate my exposure? Should i test again for HIV? Thank you

Cunnilingus is a very, very low risk route of exposure in terms of acquisition of STI’s and the partner you describe was relatively low risk for the presence of STI’s, including HIV.  The symptoms you described also do not raise concerns for recently acquired HIV and are for more likely to be coincidental than related to the exposure you described. 

FYI, when persons have symptoms from recently acquired HIV they tend to have a severe sore throat, high fever, widespread muscle and/or joint aches as well as in some cases, a rash. The symptoms all occur at the same time and persons who have them feel quite ill. Your symptoms do not seem to follow this time course, nor are they severe. 

They do not suggest HIV to me in the least.  Whether or not you choose to test related to the encounter you described is up to you. Personally I would not bother. FYI however if your symptoms are due to HIV a HIV test would be positive at this time.  EWH 

It's hard to attribute your sore throat to the encounter you describe if you already had a sore throat.   Now, following the encounter, you are more aware of symptoms.  

You are clearly over reading what I've said. I told you I saw no need for testing!!!  As you may know from looking at other threads on this Forum however, despite our counsel that there is no need for testing, many clients choose to test.  My last sentence indicated that SHOULD you choose to test (again, personally, I would not), when your test is negative, that will PROVE that your symptoms are not due to HIV.  EWH

Ok thank you for your advice and your answers. I will go and have a test now HIV duo and hope to be negative. Would the time be sufficient to detect an HIV infection at this point after symptoms and 20 days after intercourse?

About the initial sore throat i had one ending at the time of the encounter at the ending of a cold that i catched previously. Since my last symptoms began i had no sore thoat. It started again at day 14 along with my rashes. That previous throat inflammation could elavate the risk of cunnilingus?

If you could also comment the low lemphocytes count and the high CRP at day 12 as an indicator of beginning of ARS i would be much happy.

Thank you again for your patience and effort.

There are no data to suggest that the presence of a sore throat or dental problems, or mouth sores would change the vanishing low risk for acquisition of HIV during cunnilingus.

Your low lymphocyte and modestly elevated CRP are non-specific and are in no way suggestive of HIV.  Any number of problems, including every day viral respiratory infections, including the common cold could explain your findings.  The fact that your CRP returned to normal supports that this was a transitory problem and not due to the ARS.

I presume you are aware that we provide up to three responses to each client’s questions.  This is my 3rd response and therefore this thread will be closed shortly.  

Finally, I urge you to take a deep breath and relax.  Your risk for HIV is minuscule and not something to worry about.  EWH